South Sudanese army: Checkpoints continue to fight arms smuggling despite some soldiers' excesses

Sofa: Mohamed Imran 

The army confirmed in South Sudan Security barriers and checkpoints on main roads will remain an essential part of efforts to combat arms smuggling and limit their proliferation within the country, while acknowledging abuses committed by some forces at these points.

South Sudanese army: Checkpoints continue to fight arms smuggling despite some soldiers' excesses

South Sudan People's Defense Forces Military Intelligence chief, Lt. Gen. Akol Steven Thiongkol, said authorities are working to tighten control over the movement of weapons and ammunition amidst open borders that facilitate their flow throughout the country.

He clarified that «the Ministry seeks to limit the movement of weapons within the country, and given that South Sudan's borders are very open, the flow of weapons presents a major challenge. Therefore, checkpoints have been established to regulate and monitor the movement of weapons and ammunition.».

At the same time, the military official acknowledged the existence of illegal practices by some junior officers, who exploit checkpoints to extort money from travelers, which hinders citizens' movement and negatively affects the work of humanitarian partners.

He added that these transgressions pose a challenge that requires addressing, due to their impact on freedom of movement and the execution of humanitarian activities.

General Aboud's statements came during a workshop held in Juba on Friday, with the participation of the South Sudan People's Defense Forces, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, and the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission, where participants discussed the most prominent challenges facing peacekeeping operations and service delivery in the country.